Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 3

Bitter principles, often derived from plants such as gentian, dandelion, and artichoke, have a long history of traditional use for supporting the hepatic (liver) system. In many traditional systems of medicine, including European herbalism and Traditional Chinese Medicine, bitters are believed to stimulate digestive secretions and promote liver function. The rationale is that the bitter taste activates receptors on the tongue, which then triggers a reflexive increase in bile production and flow, thus aiding the liver’s detoxification and digestive roles. While there is anecdotal and observational support for the use of bitters in liver health, and some small studies indicate bitters can increase bile flow or stimulate appetite, robust clinical evidence directly linking bitters to improved liver function or disease outcomes is limited. Most of the support comes from historical texts, herbal compendia, and centuries of empirical use rather than modern randomized controlled trials. Some components of bitter herbs, such as silymarin from milk thistle, have been more rigorously studied, but general “bitter principles” as a category remain primarily grounded in traditional practice. As such, bitters are still widely used in herbal medicine for liver and digestive support, though scientific validation is moderate at best.

More about Bitter principals
More about Hepatic System

Other ingredients that support Hepatic System

amino acids
artichoke
barberry
berberine
black garlic
bovine
bovine liver
broccoli
bupleurum falcatum
turmeric
curcumin
d-glucarate
dandelion
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
fructose
garlic bulb
gentian root
gooseberry
green tea
hesperetin
kale
l-glutathione
l-methionine
l-ornithine
lecithin
liquid liver fractions
matcha
milk thistle
n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
naringin
niacin (vitamin B3)
niacinamide (vitamin B3)
nicotinamide riboside
oleanolic acid
olive
ox bile
pantethine
parsley
phenolic acids
phosphatidylcholine
phospholipids
pumpkin
riboflavin (vitamin B2)
silymarin
sulforaphane glucosinolate
tocotrienols
trimethylglycine (TMG)
triphala
vitamin B
water
watercress
zinc
jiaogulan
punarnava
picrorhiza kurroa
lingzhi
bile salt
ferulic acid
ganoderma
polyphenols
trace minerals
herbal blend (proprietary)
algae
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
Apigenin
Antrodia camphorata
Arginine carglumate
AHCC
Andrographolide
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Ampelopsin
Animal protein
Black Seed
Borotutu
Brassica
Beef liver
Baicalein
Basidiomycota
boldo
Betanin
berry
Bitter principals
bile acid
Bupleurum
Boerhavia diffusa
cholic acid
Carqueja
Catalpol
Coenzyme A
Capillary Artemisia
chlorogenic acid
Curcuminoid
Cynarin
Cruciferous
Capers
Chanca Piedra
Curcuma
Chinese Thoroughwax
Corilagin
Cynaropicrin
Dihydromyricetin
DL-Methionine
Dehydrocholic acid
Dihydrolipoic Acid
Dithiolthiones
Eriocitrin
Egg
Eclipta
Emblicanin
Fringetree
Flavonolignan
Ginsenosides
Gamma-Glutamylcysteine
Gallate
glucose
Glycocholic acid
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Glycyrrhizin
Gentiana manshurica
Glycochenodeoxycholic acid

Other body systems supported by Bitter principals

Digestive System
Gall Bladder
Gastrointestinal Tract
Hepatic System
Intestinal System
Large Intestines (Colon)
Liver
Pancreas Head
Small Intestines
Stomach

Products containing Bitter principals

We currently have no products on Caring Sunshine that contain this ingredient.